Articles
A wide angle view of your business
August 31, 2017 Patti LowesPart-time CFOs may be an answer for small- to mid-sized businesses. I had lunch with an old friend recently. Matt has a family owned HVAC business – it is now in its second generation. “You must be feeling good,” I…
LEAPing ahead in sustainability
August 31, 2017 Michael PowerThe Coquitlam Centre’s new heat recovery chiller (HRC) system wins HOOPP’s LEAP award, helps cut GHG emissions by 35 per cent. Sustainability has transformed from a “nice-to-have” aspect for businesses to a core component of operations for many organizations, both…
How to improve commercial building design
August 30, 2017 Judy PetersThough not a new concept, the intentional practice of calculating in detail how a building will use energy is a critical, yet often overlooked, step in building development. At its core, energy modeling is the practice of using software to…
Melting snow is a beautiful thing
August 30, 2017 Lance MacNevinLEARN MORE ABOUT THIS TOPIC AT MODERN HYDRONICS-SUMMIT 2017. LANCE WILL BE DISCUSSING HYDRONIC SNOW AND ICE MELTNG SYSTEMS IN MORE DETAIL AT THE SUMMIT. As I write this it is hard to think about winter, but I am pretty…
How water behaves in hydronic systems – Part II
August 29, 2017 Mark OlsonTwo common problems resulting from poor water quality are excessive corrosion and limescale accumulation. In Part I (HPAC, February 2017) we examined corrosion. The following is a closer look at limescale accumulation. In North America the dissolved mineral content from…
Calling all wetheads: Take advantage of special contractor pricing
August 28, 2017 by Kerry TurnerClick here for sneak peek into Robert Bean’s presentation and the opening Siggy & the Bean session. Modern Hydronics-Summit 2017 will be held September 14, 2017 at the International Centre in Mississauga, ON. From the trade show floor where more…
Distribution efficiency: An often overlooked benefit of hydronics
August 24, 2017 by Kerry TurnerDuring the 35+ years that I have been involved in the North American hydronics industry there have been significant improvements in the thermal efficiency of hydronic heat sources. The 1960s vintage ranch house that I grew up in is a…
How to properly apply a TEV for a given application
August 23, 2017 Dave DemmaIn my travels I have many opportunities to visit and interact with HVAC/R contractors. In the course of these visits, a frequent topic of discussion is refrigerant conversions. After the typical “what’s the best replacement for R-22”, and “do we…
Register now for the hydronics event of the year!
August 21, 2017 by HPAC MagazineModern Hydronics-Summit 2017 will be held September 14, 2017 at the International Centre in Mississauga, ON. From the trade show floor where more than 50 exhibitors will be available to talk to you, one-on-one, about the latest hydronic product offerings,…
Change is in the air
August 20, 2017 Michael PowerStrengthening regional representation and ensuring money earmarked for climate change projects is spent wisely are among top priorities for Bruce Passmore, who was appointed chair of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) at the organization’s 49th-annual…
Making sense of boiler ratings
August 16, 2017 by Kerry TurnerWhen it comes to the selection and sizing of your boiler many people get a little confused as to what all the different ratings mean and which rating you should use. Take a look at a manufacturers’ specification sheet and…
Are you overcharging cooling systems?
May 17, 2017 Ian McTeerEvery industry has its heroes, including HVAC/R. People such as Michael Faraday, Willis Carrier, Fredrick McKinley Jones and Thomas Midgley Jr. provided a large measure of inspiration for me as I progressed through the science of refrigeration and air conditioning.…
Service Vehicle Report: Heavy-duty changes in 2017 offering
May 16, 2017 Jil McIntoshWhile consumer vehicles are constantly being tweaked to capture buyers’ interest, commercial vehicles are more about practicality than pizzazz. The most remarkable changes in the commercial vehicle offering for 2017 are in the heavy-duty pickup segment, with an all-new Super…
A tale of two plumbing inspections
May 16, 2017 Steve GoldieOver the years I spent as a plumber I was probably involved in at least two hundred plumbing inspections. I actually used to enjoy the ritual of getting my work prepared for inspection, filling the stacks, pressurizing the water lines,…
Insights on refrigerant flammability and safety
May 16, 2017 Spencer FullerAfter the Montreal Protocol began the phase-out of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants in 1987, the HVAC industry began to test alternative refrigerants. Since then, the industry’s primary concern has been “safety first.” This does not mean just environmental safety, but also…
Higher efficiency circulators are here to stay
May 16, 2017 John SiegenthalerWet-rotor circulators have been used in millions of residential and light commercial hydronic systems over the last four decades. Many hydronic pros consider them “commodity” components. They are available from a long list of suppliers, most of which provide equivalency…
Radiant cooling: Emerging technology shows promise
May 16, 2017 Rob WatersMost heating professions are very familiar with the principals of radiant floor heating systems and how they work. These systems have become an accepted part of the HVAC offering of many engineers and contractors, as they have proven to offer…
The secret of turning building data into revenue
May 15, 2017 Matt GatesInformation technology advancements are bringing about a product revolution with smart, connected products that are more available and affordable than ever before. Near ubiquitous wireless connectivity, coupled with improvements in processing power and device miniaturization, have resulted in a wave…
A lesson in sustainability
May 12, 2017 Shawn SinnieClass is back in session and the teachers have a little more help this year. The renovated Steinbach Regional Secondary School in Steinbach, MB, is assisting the faculty with a great lesson for the students on the environment and the…
Mechanical contractor pays it forward
May 11, 2017 by Kerry TurnerMechanical contractor Patrick Waunch, who is president and CEO of Rambow Mechanical in Kelowna, BC, is the recipient of the Canadian Construction Association’s 2016 CCA Trade Contractors Award. The association cited Waunch’s “infectious enthusiasm and dedication to the growth…
The case for stainless steel water heater tanks
March 21, 2017 Robert WatersDespite the higher price tag, stainless steel water heater tanks are often more cost effective when lifecycle costs are compared and should be presented as such. Domestic water heating appliances are the real foot soldiers of the mechanical world. They…
Delivering on the promise of renewable energy
March 21, 2017 Ian McTeerUtilizing the heat migrating up from earth’s 6100C inner core to produce electricity (geothermal energy) and to help comfort condition buildings year-round (geothermal HVAC) seems like a logical choice. The question is why aren’t we doing more of it? The…
Simple and sophisticated hydronic systems
March 21, 2017 John SiegenthalerAs the North American hydronics industry has grown, so has the complexity of its systems. Many installations that are now featured as award winning examples of hydronic heating contain thousands of parts and pieces. They can be so complex that…
Grease management: Pitfalls to avoid
March 20, 2017 Andrew BirdAs unpleasant and challenging to work with as they are, grease interceptors are a necessary and vital part of the plumbing system for commercial, industrial and institutional applications. The professional contractor has a number of roles to play in this…
What to consider when expanding your business
March 20, 2017 Hank BulmashGrowing your business by expanding to another province is a big step and the process can be complicated. Before beginning operations in a second province you have to determine if your company is legally able to do business there. Federally…
Hydronic controls: A look ahead
March 19, 2017 Mike MillerWhen I started my career some 25 years ago hydronic controls were pretty rudimentary. At best, they could control what they were designed for, but they were pretty much standalone. There were little application controllers and were often only good…
Introduction to refrigeration defrost methods-Part II
March 19, 2017 Dave DemmaRefrigeration systems operating with saturated suction temperatures below freezing will eventually experience an accumulation of frost on the evaporator tubes and fins. The frost serves as an insulator between the heat to be transferred from the space and the refrigerant,…
New codes, regulations and policies change landscape for mechanical industry
February 17, 2017 Robert WatersThe HVAC and plumbing industry in Canada is in for some profound changes with the coming wave of new building codes, policies and regulations. All levels of government–federal, provincial and municipal–are pushing hard to go green and reduce the impact…
Important updates to CSA B214 Installation Code for Hydronic Heating Systems
February 16, 2017 Lance MacNevinIt is well known in industry circles that when designed and installed correctly, hydronic heating and cooling systems deliver the highest possible efficiency and comfort to building occupants. Likewise, hydronic snow and ice melting systems provide safety, convenience and access…
Piping layouts to avoid in hydronic systems
February 15, 2017 John SiegenthalerEinstein’s definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. If that is true, there are some “insane” hydronic system designers in North America. They repeatedly cling to certain system piping configurations, even though…